Connecting with Your Chakras

“Where’d you get the candles?” asked my seven-year-old daughter, Emily, as she eyed my brightly coloured chakra candles on the edge of a tall dresser. I thought I’d hidden them, but they were spotted by a little girl who misses nothing.

“Can we light one?” asked Emily. “Can we light the blue one?”

“Sure,” I replied, handing her the candle and the small square glass holder to take downstairs.

“What are they for?” asked ever-curious Emily.

“They’re for meditating,” I answered. “Each colour corresponds to an area of your body called a chakra. When you meditate on a particular colour, it unlocks a pathway so energy can flow through.”

Emily looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language.

“Can we light it now?” she asked.

Turning the Wheel

Cakra (chakra in English) is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel or disk. Of the many chakras that exist, seven have been identified as major chakras that correspond to seven areas in the body, originating from the base of the spine and travelling up. Imagine them as horizontal spinning CDs that maintain balance in your body. In order to stay healthy, chakras must be kept open; blocked chakras can lead to illness.

The chakra candles may be made out of soy or beeswax. (Always avoid paraffin candles as they give off toxic fumes.) Single pillar candles with graduated colours or symbols corresponding to each chakra are also an option. Some candles are scented to give you a hit of aromatherapy while meditating.

Meditate on Blue

Emily placed the blue chakra candle in its holder on the family room floor. She set the mood by turning off all the lights while I put on a meditation CD at low volume. Singing sitars and drums pounding out a heartbeat rhythm filled the room.

Emily’s younger sister, Erin, was dragged from her computer game to join in the fun. I expected Erin to be her rambunctious four-year-old self and was surprised to see her take her place and sit cross-legged on the floor with her hands together like a guru in prayer. I noticed Emily sitting in the lotus position, each foot resting comfortably on her opposite thigh.

I was surprised how quickly both my daughters caught on to the idea. Though the meditation didn’t last as long as I’d liked, the girls seemed to have gained something valuable from the experience.

“That was fun,” said Emily. “Can we light the pink one tomorrow?”

Centre yourself before beginning a chakra candle meditation. Sit cross-legged on the floor and imagine that your spine is a tree with its roots reaching below the floor, anchoring you to the ground. Music specifically arranged to lead you through each chakra (available in many bookstores or online) is helpful in keeping you focused on your meditation and allows for equal time to be spent on each chakra.

Seventh Chakra

Location: top of head Corresponds to: pituitary gland, central nervous system, cerebral cortex Colour: violet or white

Sixth Chakra

Location: medula plexus (the point between the eyebrows) Corresponds to: pineal gland, eyes Colour: indigo (blue)

Fifth Chakra

Location: throat Corresponds to: thyroid, parathyroid, shoulders, neck, arms, hands Colour: turquoise or blue

Fourth Chakra

Location: heart Corresponds to: thymus, lungs, heart, pericardium, arms, hands Colour: green

Third Chakra

Location: navel, solar plexus Corresponds to: pancreas, adrenals, digestive system, muscles Colour: yellow

Second Chakra

Location: hypogastric plexus, genitals, womb Corresponds to: ovaries, testicles, womb, genitals, kidney, bladder, circulatory system Colour: orange

First Chakra

Location: base of spine and pelvic plexus region between anus and genitals Corresponds to: adrenal glands, legs, feet, bones, teeth, large intestine Colour: red